And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

Cook scoring runs isn't surprising what will be surprising is if the rest of the line up manages to do so. I mean lets be fair if there was one batsman in the set up we weren't worried about scoring runs it was probably Cook.

I think Cook, KP, Prior and Samit are all good against the spinners and will come good at some point or the other during the series with big scores. Compton looks solid as well. The real worry would be Trott and Bell and whoever replaces Bell next test. But this opening partnership has been all kinds of awesome.. India have a tough first session ahead tomm and that will tell us if we can go on to win or if England will fight it out this time.

We miss you, Fardin. :(. RIP.

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

In the end, I think it's so utterly, incomprehensibly boring. There is so much context behind each innings of cricket that dissecting statistics into these small samples is just worthless. No-one has ever been faced with the same situation in which they come out to bat as someone else. Ever.

I like Bell but he may as well stay at home after the birth and come back for NZ as he is no use to us doing stuff like that.

It is between his ears. But he's also sadly just not good enough. Good lad. Team man. But should have been dropped long ago. What I don't understand is people who suggest he should be picked for when piechuckers come to England - so he can fill his boots and have those who cannot distinguish between base metal and gold compare him to Sanga and Clarke and Amla -, and then 'rested' for SC tours. So he doesn't have to face Ajmal et al.

This is crazy reasoning. England need in his position to have a batsman they can rely on under all conditions and in any situation. To defend, consolidate, attack, counter-attack, and fill his boots when the going is good etc. Bell is now and has throughout his Test career only ever been good for the latter - and that on specific types of track. He is a 'fill his boots when the going is good' merchant. That's it.

He doesn't have the technique to keep out the top bowlers. Nor the range of scoring shots to break the shackles when these bowlers have him under the cosh and are applying sustained pressure - whether it's quicks making him hop about or spinners deceiving him with their variation. Clarke can do those things. As can Amla, Sanga and half a dozen others with varying degrees of consistency and proficiency. Bell cannot.

In fact he's as likely whenever he faces a balanced and potent attack to surrender limply to the seamers as to the spinners, as he's proved many times in the past. He is not mentally tough enough. He doesn't have the technique. His management of risk and reward in his shot making is atrocious. None of this is likely to improve. England would likely have won that final Test and salvaged a draw in the SA series has they dropped Bell. Young Bairstow's already better than him. If the selectors continue picking him against all evidence I'll simply stop supporting England. I have no support to spare for those who won't help themselves.